Bill Ford Jr. and Ford Aims to Revive Michigan Central Train Station

DETROIT, Michigan — Ford Motor Companies Bill Ford Jr. revealed his plan to transform the newly-acquired Michigan Central Station into the “centerpiece” of a new campus in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood.

“It feels like there is a kid inside of you that is giddy and can’t wait to come to work here,” said Bill Ford Jr. “There is a kid inside me and I can’t wait to be here,” Bill Ford Jr. said. “Not just because this is a really awesome building, which it is. But also because this is where the future is going to be created – and that really interests me.”

The company says the campus will serve as an “innovation hub” for Ford’s vision for the future of transportation. Bill Ford Jr. was joined by Mayor of Detroit

“For as long as you can remember this train station has been abandoned,” said Detroit rapper Big Sean. “This marks the first time that the whole renaissance we’ve seen downtown” makes its way into the neighborhoods.”

The acquisition of Michigan Central Station comes alongside Ford’s purchase of the former Detroit Public Schools Book Depository, two acres of vacant land, the site of an old brass factory and the recent purchase of a refurbished former factory in Corktown, now home to Ford’s electric vehicle and autonomous vehicle business teams.

Highlights of Ford’s new Corktown campus include:

The campus will be comprised of about 1.2 million square feet of property in Corktown

There will be a mixed-use space, including office space, retail space and residential housing

Approximately 2,500 Ford employees, most from the mobility team, will call Corktown their work home by 2022.

There will also be a space to accommodate 2,500 additional employees of partners and other business amongst Michigan Central Station and the other developments.

The project is expected to be completed by 2022 and will be the workplace for approximately 2500 Ford employees.